Why is Fantasy Always in a British Accent?

[ellenkushner]

I found this essay online (on the Dialect Blog),  and dared join the very interesting Comments section with a few of my own observations on the "Riverside" accent - and on the dangers of reading Thomas the Rhymer aloud . . . . 

And now they want me to elaborate!



Oh, dear - will you look at the time?

Srsly, though, I will have to do a piece on this once Swordspoint recording begins in September, with me as Chief Reader, but a couple of dramatized scenes.  [Where, and what time I will perform the rite, who's producing and who's distributing (and how you may be able to win a ticket to come and watch the recording) are Announcements for another day.  But Watch This Space!]

Comments

[jay-of-lasgalen.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm biased of course ;) but to me a British accent sounds completely normal. It's American accents I tend to notice more.

[kittydesade.livejournal.com]

... I think I'm going to have to take this as a challenge.

Exactly what I'm going to write for it, I don't know, because I'm not currently running any good fantasy ideas, but! A challenge, nonetheless. The challenge has been issued.

[lutin.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be there to hear you read! I started listening to your programs when I was in India and homesick (ahem) for the sorts of mystical-reality I knew from home. And I know what some of your stories sound like in Eve's voice - but yours! Ellen-accented and everything. Wonderful. :)

[quizzicalsphinx.livejournal.com]

I have a habit of having really clear, distinctive accents/speech patterns for my characters, with all sorts of verbal tics. Unfortunately, these speech patterns, which play very well in my head, sometimes do not translate well to the page--and for me, there is nothing worse than having an "oh my god who talks like this?" moment halfway down an otherwise gripping page.

So I have long been in the habit of reading dialogue aloud to see if it sounds natural--and also doing all the voices to the best of my ability. It's been nearly twelve years and my husband is just about used to me trying to lower my voice to that of a 6'4" French Navy man . . . except that more than once now, the husband has nudged me awake in the middle of the night to inform me that I am talking in a character's voice in my sleep.

[tara-li.livejournal.com]

Because, at least to an *American* ear, British accents sound more formal, and older?

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Yes THIS. Also that we are English speakers generally, and few of us are fluent enough in other languages to have the French accent in The Porcelain Dove, or the Hungarian accent noticeable in Brust's Dragaera books.

Now, REALLY a lot of the medieval-template fantasy ought to be done in pre-Great-Vowel-Shift accent, but most casual readers can't hear that one either, and a novel's worth of Chaucerian spelling would be distracting.

[taraljc.livejournal.com]

You should have heard us doing a reading of a Dylan Thomas radio play at CONvergence. "Llareggub" became "Steve". Had I known THEN it was "Bugger all" spelt backwards...

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Wow - I was Polly in my college production - I didn't know it then, either!

[rubygirl29.livejournal.com]

Swordspoint recording? Oh, fabulous news! I just read "The Duke of Riverside" and have fallen in love all over again with Alec and Richard.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you. We love you, too.

[swimtech.livejournal.com]

Obviously, I've got professional interest in this, so I hope you'll keep me posted.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!

[kat-with-sword.livejournal.com]

You are recording Swordspoint!?!! (cue sound of Kat's head exploding in glee).

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

And I think there will be a public "performance" of part of it (in NYC - and/or possibly even on Long Island) - I'll keep you posted! My crazy wonderful producer has lots of tricks & treats in store.

[manyfacesofme22.livejournal.com]

Swordspoint recording! You are my favourite forever.